TWIN LAKES ACTION GROUP CALLS FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO RECUSE THEMSELVES ON LAND USE VOTE

Boulder County Commissioners Violating County Conflict of Interest Policies

26 September 2016 | BOULDER, CO – Citing the multiple conflicts of interest apparent in the ongoing land use case in Gunbarrel, TLAG today called on the County Commissioners to recuse themselves from Tuesday’s vote. The

Section I, Number I.6(B)8 of the Boulder County Personnel & Policy Manual sets forth the eligibility of individuals to serve as members of Boards and Commissions. That section unequivocally states: “Persons may only serve on one (1) Board or Commission at a time.”

Commissioner Gardner

Commissioner Domenico

Commissioner E. Jones

“The language is as clear as the reason for it in the first place; to prevent breeches of fiduciary duty. Simply being an elected official does not allow the Commissioners to operate above the law or outside of their own rules,” said TLAG Chairman Dave Rechberger.

Commissioners Jones, Domenico and Gardner are simultaneously serving on two boards with competing duties; one seeking a legislative amendment and the other ruling on it. On both boards, the three commissioners are the sole decision makers.

The reason for a four-body review process is to avoid this type of self-dealing and to protect the public trust in the legislative process. The Commissioners’ obvious conflict, as petitioner and decider rightfully undermines the public trust.

“This matter is the latest in a series of suspect dealings in a process that reflects an entrenched bias and that appears to have a predetermined outcome,” Rechberger said.

In their written request for recusal, TLAG details seven individual acts, each one of which, is compelling enough to suggest that recusal is the only permissible path forward.